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Bobby Jindal signs RSD 'parent trigger' bill into law

Posted on June 17, 2013 at 8:30 PM

NewSchools1366-parkview.jpg

A bill signed into law Monday will allow parents to petition to shift control over failing schools from the RSD back to the local system. However, charter schools, like the new Parkview School in Gentilly shown here, will not be eligible under the "parent trigger" law.

Parents will have more control over what entity has authority for their child's school under a bill signed into law by Gov. Bobby Jindal on Monday. The legislation allows parents to petition to shift control from some failing Recovery School District schools back to the local system, if certain benchmarks are met.

Called the "parent trigger," the legislation will give parents the ability to shift control of a school from the state-run RSD back to the local school district if the school has received a "D" or "F" grade for five consecutive years. The petition would require signatures from the majority of parents who have had children enrolled in the school in the past two years.

Although the measure was universally supported by education officials, teacher unions and legislators during this year's session, some parents have expressed concern that the trigger will apply only to a small number of RSD schools because of the charter exemption.

Starting next school year, New Orleans' Recovery School District will become a nearly 100
percent charter system, with the local system running half the schools
it operated previously.

State Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, who sponsored the legislation, said there are a number of schools in his district that could apply for parent petitions under the new law. He added that he plans to introduce a bill during next year's session to expand the "parent trigger."

While RSD student test scores continue to lag the state average, the numbers improved this year and pushed the district into the "most improved" category among the state's public school systems.

House Bill 115 was signed by the governor Monday. BESE will be required to adopt rules and regulations for how the petition process will work by Oct. 15.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said no New Orleans RSD schools scored above a "D" last year. This is incorrect. Four RSD schools scored a "C" letter grade and five a "B" letter grade. None scored an "A."